Favorites of 2011

As we are nearing the end of this year, it's kind of fun to see how the year went.  I am amazed at the growth of this little hobby of mine.  Thank you so much for spending a little bit of my life with me!  I looked through the archives and pulled out some favorites from the past year.  These aren't necessarily the ones with the  most hits or the most comments.  Just ones I like, a lot.


Dishtowel into Pillow  - I bought a dishtowel of Colorado, but didn't want it to get dirty.  I sewed it into a pillow and it sits on a bench in our foyer. 

 Bench Makeover - I bought a bench for cheap and gave it a makeover.  I painted the legs, added more padding, covered the buttons and tufted this.  It sits at the end of our bed and we love it.

Green Smoothie - we drink these several times a week.  In fact, after all the Christmas goodies that have been coming into our home, this smoothie is the perfect way to bounce back!

Source: themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Arts and Crafts Thursday with kiddos series - every Thursday, when my kiddos are out of school, we try to do some art project.  I loved looking back at all the things we've made together.  It's become one of our favorite things to do together.

Source: themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Ruffle Bag Tutorial - such a pretty bag.

Source: themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Allowance with our kids - this is the way our family does allowance.  It isn't complicated, it works, and I really think it is teaching them some basics of money.  All kids spent their own money on Christmas presents for each other this year!

Source: themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Our office - this year, we got moulding up around the room, put in an executive desk, started filling up the bookshelves, and sewed some drapes.  We still have to get a light fixture, something on the walls, replace the office chair and cozy this room up.

Source: themacdougallfamily.blogspot.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Our Baby - yep, we've got #4 on the way.  I'm not sure if projects are going to slow down as I get bigger or speed up as I anticipate no spare time once this little duckling arrives. 

Again, thank you!  You have made our year such an awesome year!  We are very excited for the year 2012 and anticipate another fantastic year!

Also linking to:  Serenity Now, Someday Crafts

Office Drapes

I did add some drapes awhile ago in the office and it has added exactly the touch I was looking for.  When I moved the slip covered love seat in, there was space between the couch and the bookshelves.  I just wanted to fill in the gap with some pretty fabric.

Since my husband would kill me if I actually screwed anything into the shelves, the rod is a tension rod that I screwed really really tight.

It took me about 6 months to find a fabric that I loved and I eventually ordered it from Joann's, of all places.   I added the stripe fabric because I had been watching so much Sarah Richardson and felt a need to mix patterns.  I can't believe how well they go together and how much I like the two patterns.  Baby steps, I'll be able to mix and match soon.  Who knows, maybe I'll even start adding trim!

This half of the room makes me smile every time I walk past it.

It helps me forget about the two gigantic blank walls, the lack of a light fixture, and the need for a cool office chair.  Also, Tom uses this office regularly and there is a desk that is beginning to look like his desk at work - piles and piles.

I lined the drapes because I think drapes hang better with a little bit of weight.  Also, if I'm going to spend the time and money to get something - it's not much more to just do it right. 

Just another little step in our office story  . . . .

linking to Shabby Nest, Serenity Now, Just a Girl

Office Desk

When Tom and I get to talking about our home and what we would like we have different opinions.  We discuss and try to work it out.  We're not going to do anything unless both of us are on board.  Usually, though, Tom eventually sees my side of it and all is happy and right in the world :)  Occasionally, though, I just let Tom choose.  Such was the case with an office desk.  He wanted a big, substantial, manly man - don't you dare think of painting it - desk.

 I searched for months and eventually found one on Craigslist, of course.  I did look for new (there are great options here), but I found this solid, very heavy desk for $100 - you can't touch that price if I wanted it new. 

 There was some damange, though.  Sometimes I wonder why I just don't buy new!  When I first saw the pictures, I thought we'd be able to sand it down.  Then when I actually went to look at it, I realized they were leather inserts and the wood had water damage - you can't really fix that.  Still, we both liked it and thought it was still valuable. 

I cut some mat board to fit and topped it with a piece of glass - problem fixed!

I love the lines of this desk and I think the wood color is so pretty.  It is not what I wanted, but it's what Tom wanted, and I think it's pretty.

This is to give you an idea of the scale of this room.  It is pretty narrow and very tall.  Now, I've get to get busy with fabrics, light fixtures, chairs, mirrors and art work - I really love this.  We do work slow, though, so it might be another year before you get another glance of this room!

We've Got The Molding Up!

Does our office seem like the room that will never quit?  It's starting to seem like I've stretched this room out for about as many posts as is good, but we're still not done!  That means I've still got some more to show!

 During the holidays, Tom finished putting the molding up (or is it moulding, I  never know).  Then, he also got out the ladder and painted up the tall tall wall that I'm too scared to paint.  Everything is up and painted.  Well, not everything - we've got to touch up and paint the baseboards.  I'm going to try to get to those on Saturday.

 To say I love molding is a major understatement.  I especially love this with the bookshelves we've built.  I didn't unplug my computer before I took the pictures - my apologies.

 We did the exact treatment in the dining room and I'm loving how they tie together.  My hubby might be getting sick of putting up molding, but he's getting so good and I'm just getting started!

Cabinet Doors

 We had a colder Saturday.  Tom has reached a stopping point in the backyard.  This means, he's working on inside projects.  Fun for me - probably not for him!  But he loves me, so he becomes my handyman!  I've had the doors to the bookshelf cabinets painted for awhile now.  Tom's dad built them for us in his super duper workshop in his San Diego garage.  He shipped them to us.  Tom finally hung them (I hate to use the word finally with Tom.  He really has NO spare time) and put in the hardware - cute hardware from Anthropologie.

 It really helps with making these look built in!  Plus, they hide all the office junk I don't want seen!  I know the shelves need help, we've got to finish the room first before I start all the tweeking!

I think this office might be on track for the slowest project on a blog. We're still putting up the molding (there is no "we" about it - Tom is doing it).  Then we've got sanding, caulking, puttying, and painting.  Then I get to move things in and put holes in those freshly painted walls.  There is some oil painting on canvas that I'm interested in.  It's been about a year so far . . that's the way we roll around here - anyone else?

Bookshelves - Finally

We finally finished painting the bookshelves. To say I'm in love is a major understatement.


I got impatient and starting putting up books - you know, just to see. I know it's not styled, yet. I do want this to be a working bookcase, one that holds the books we love to read. One that my kids can use. Because of that, it will never look like a magazine, but it will be loved more.


These were more complicated than I even imagined. I read so many blogs that make building stuff seem so easy, but my husband doesn't build things like that. I learned about daydos (I have know idea how you spell it) and how not level our walls were. We sanded and sanded and primed, and sanded and spackled, and sanded and sanded again.

What a difference these shelves make. I love being able to see it in the transom window above the french doors.

Next up - the cabinet doors. They need to be sanded, primed, painted, and hung. Then we'll finish painting the walls and hanging all the trim. With spring coming up, we'll probably pause this project for awhile so we can work on our backyard. Hopefully.